Not yet medically reviewed, information on this site is in preparation and has not been verified by a medical reviewer.
Drug index / Psychedelic / 2C-B
Psychedelic

2C-B

2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine

Detailed, medically-reviewed information for 2C-B is being prepared.

Overview

2C-B is a synthetic compound in the 2C family of phenethylamines, first described by chemist Alexander Shulgin. It is a single, defined chemical — which is what distinguishes it from "pink cocaine," a mixture that merely borrows its name. It is classified as a hallucinogen.

Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration drug fact sheets, dea.gov drug fact sheet (2C-B / phenethylamines); PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine CID 98527.

Chemistry & mechanism of action

As a phenethylamine hallucinogen, 2C-B is understood to act on serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor that is central to the effects of classic psychedelics. Its molecular formula is C10H14BrNO2.

Source: PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine CID 98527; U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nida.nih.gov hallucinogens overview.

Effects

2C-B is described in public health sources as a hallucinogen with both stimulant-like and psychedelic effects that are strongly dose-dependent. Adverse effects can include nausea, anxiety or confusion, and raised heart rate and blood pressure. As with other hallucinogens, the experience is heavily shaped by dose, individual, and setting.

Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration drug fact sheets, dea.gov; U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nida.nih.gov hallucinogens.

Risks & harms

Reported harms include acute anxiety or panic, nausea, and cardiovascular strain, with added danger from interactions with stimulants and serotonergic drugs. Because illicit 2C-B has no quality control, what is sold as 2C-B may be mis-sold or adulterated. Classic hallucinogens are generally considered to have low physical-dependence potential, but that does not make acute reactions safe.

Source: U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nida.nih.gov hallucinogens; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration drug fact sheets, dea.gov.

Subjective effects

dose-dependent serotonergic; low dose relaxed/heightened senses/euphoria; medium stimulant + full intoxication; high LSD-like hallucinations + morbid delusions

Onset

20–30 min

Peak

1.5–2 hr

Duration

up to 8 hr

Harmful effects

high-dose hallucinations/morbid delusions; persistent psychosis after single tablet; sold misrepresented as MDMA/LSD

Medicinal use

none in US; historical pre-1995 Shulgin psychotherapy use

History

synthesized 1974 by Alexander Shulgin from 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde; pub. w/ Carter 1975; PiHKAL "warm hug"; sold as Nexus/Erox pre-scheduling; first DEA lab ID 1986

Prevalence

NFLIS >1,500 reports since 1998; peak 201 (2019), 76 (2024)

Images

Visual references coming soon.

If it’s too intense

If an experience becomes overwhelming, the goal is to stay safe and let it pass, most difficult experiences ease as the drug wears off.

  • Get to a calm, safe space with someone you trust who is sober and can stay with you.
  • Cool down if you’re overheating, move somewhere cool, remove extra layers, rest. Overheating is especially a risk with stimulants and MDMA.
  • Sip water to thirst, but don’t over-hydrate. Drinking large amounts of plain water (especially after MDMA) can dangerously dilute your blood sodium (hyponatremia). Electrolytes help more than volume.
  • Slow your breathing, long, slow exhales help settle a racing heart and anxiety.
  • A sugary drink, fruit juice, or a snack can ease shakiness and the anxiety that comes with low blood sugar.
  • Do not take more, and do not add another substance to manage it. Redosing or adding something else (including a sedative like a benzodiazepine) can make things worse, not better.

With psychedelics, fear and confusion are usually temporary. Change your surroundings, calmer light, quiet music, a trusted person, and remind yourself it will lift as the drug wears off.

Call 911 (or Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222) right away for chest pain, a very high body temperature, a seizure, unconsciousness, or severe confusion. These are medical emergencies, not something to wait out.

Source: general harm-reduction guidance from SAMHSA, NIH/NIDA, and MedlinePlus, in our own words. Draft, not yet medically reviewed.

Forensic dossier

Draft · every field is source-cited or marked “Unknown, pending review”

Identity

IUPAC name
2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanaminePubChem PUG-REST · retrieved 2026-06-18
SMILES
COC1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)OC)BrPubChem PUG-REST · retrieved 2026-06-18
InChIKey
YMHOBZXQZVXHBM-UHFFFAOYSA-NPubChem PUG-REST · retrieved 2026-06-18
Synonyms / aliases
nexus, bromo, Nexus, BDMPEA, 2-CB, Nexus (pharmaceutical), DEA No. 7392, .ALPHA.-DESMETHYL DOB, YMHOBZXQZVXHBM-UHFFFAOYSA-N, MFTPubChem PUG-REST + seed aliases · retrieved 2026-06-18

Composition

Composition
N/A — single compound (see Identity)

Physical / pill characteristics

Dosage form
Unknown — pending review (no Rx/OTC label; illicit — pill visuals = FIRST-PARTY submissions only, never generated or scraped)
Route
Unknown — pending review
Shape
Unknown — pending review
Color
Unknown — pending review
Imprint
Unknown — pending review
Score
Unknown — pending review

Scheduling & legal status

International
Unknown, pending review

Effects, risks & interactions

Effects
2C-B is a psychedelic phenethylamine that produces dose-dependent changes in perception, mood and sensory experience — users commonly report visual and tactile distortion, altered sense of time, heightened sensory awareness and euphoria, with a stimulant character that distinguishes it from classic tryptamine psychedelics. Onset and duration vary with the individual and the (unverifiable, illicit) amount taken.NIDA + MedlinePlus · retrieved 2026-06-18
Risks
Reported adverse effects include nausea, anxiety or agitation, confusion, and raised heart rate and blood pressure; higher exposure can produce distressing or disorienting experiences. A central harm-reduction concern is mis-selling: powders sold as "2C-B" — especially "pink cocaine"/tusi — frequently contain little or no 2C-B (see the tusi dossier), so buyers cannot know the actual contents without drug-checking.NIDA + MedlinePlus · retrieved 2026-06-18
Interactions
Unknown, pending review

Dosage

Pending medical reviewer

Sources

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